He now resolved to surrender himself wholly to literature as a profession,
and for that purpose he removed to London, with a novel in his pocket, the composition of which had been his solace in the season of distress. This work, entitled the "Sectarian," was published by Colburn, and on its first appearance
excited considerable attention, on account of its vivid sketches, chiefly of morbid
feelings and their effects; but however such anatomy may interest for the moment, a reaction of pain, or even of absolute disgust is certain to follow, and
the work is thrown aside, never to be reopened. This, however, was not the chief cause that made the "Sectarian" a failure. It contained such a sketch of
religious melancholy, terminating in madness, as gave offence to the sober-minded,
drawn though it was from a living reality. Although this literary production
was so unfortunate in itself that it never became popular, and soon passed away,
its evidently powerful writing was the means of introducing its author to the editors of our chief periodicals, who were glad to avail themselves of his
services, on which account he was a frequent contributor to the reviews and magazines of the day.
Mr. Picken had now fully embarked in authorship as a trade, and with such an amount of talent and perseverance as might have won his way to fortune in any other department. In 1830 he published the "Dominie's Legacy," a work whose success made ample amends for the failure of the "Sectarian," as it raised him at once to a high rank among the delineators of Scottish humble life. In this, too, he succeeded all the more, that instead of converting facts into mere pegs for theories and opinions of his own, he tells right onward what he saw and what he felt, and makes truth and reality everything a process in which he was sure to carry along with him at least nine-tenths of his readers. His next work was the "Lives of Eminent Missionaries," which he undertook for "Colburn's Juvenile Library;" but as this serial publication was brought to a close before his lives were ready for the press, they were subsequently published in a separate volume by Kidd, and passed through two large impres- sions. Picken’s next work was "The Club Book," a collection of papers, some of which were contributed by distinguished living writers; but even among these, his own tales were not of inferior interest or power. In proof of this may be mentioned the "Three Kearneys," a sketch of Irish life, and the "Deer-stalkers." Soon after the "Club Book," he published a work on the Canadas, but chiefly a compilation, in which he received important aid from his friend Mr. Gait. This was followed by "Waltham," a tale, which appeared in Leitch Ritchie's "Library of Romance."
This rapid succession of works within so brief a period, only seemed to animate Picken to further efforts, and, in 1832, he published "Traditionary Stories of Old Families," in two volumes. He thus ascended to what might be termed the fountain-head and source of the romance of biography. As this was designed merely as the first part of a series that should comprise the legendary history of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the work excited considerable interest among the aristocracy, many of whom offered him free access to their family archives, for the successful continuation of his task. But before he could avail himself of this courteous permission, his career was suddenly terminated. On the 10th of November, 1833, while conversing with his son, he was struck down in a moment with apoplexy, but afterwards rallied so effectually, that hopes of his full recovery were entertained by his family and friends. These hopes proved fallacious, for after an evening of cheerful conversation with
